With the growing trend of people turning to gastric band and sleeve surgery to help with weight loss – some as young as ten years old – Julie-anne Sprague talked to WA bariatric surgeon Stephen Watson about the current state of the technology, why it has bceome so popular and what potential dangers are inherent to surgery.

“Surgery is at the end of the spectrum of options… in the same way if you have a painful knee, you don’t rush to surgery,” Dr Watson said.

“Usually patients come along and they’ve tried the diet and exercise, they’ve tried the dietitian and medications; surgery doesn’t guarantee long-term wight loss, but it’s the most likely way to achieve it.”

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